Developmental psychologist Georgia Nigro’s courses often feature a community-based learning component. Psychologists who study the effects of community-based learning on students find that it increases learning outcomes.

Each senior psychology major completes a senior thesis under the guidance of one of our faculty members. Students can choose one of three focuses: Empirical Research, Community-Based Research, or Theoretical Review and Integration.

Professor of Psychology Kathy Low leads a discussion in her first-year seminar “Corporal Culture: Body and Health in America.” The course addresses a variety of topics related to body and health, from body image to body dysmorphia.

Department of Psychology at Bates College

Welcome to the website for the psychology department. We invite you to explore the many resources that we have posted online to help you learn more about the major.

Students who major in psychology examine behavior and mental processes using the scientific method and learn to apply this knowledge in real-world and laboratory settings. Students graduating with a psychology degree are exposed to a large variety of topics and methods within the field of psychology (breadth) and are required to take additional courses in one of several focus areas (depth).